In combining four brilliant albums onto a great value Double CD, Angels from Montgomery: 4 Essential Albums 1971–1975 captures the prime recordings by revered American singer / songwriter JOHN PRINE. Prine is one of the most influential songwriters of his generation. On hearing Prine in 1971 a clearly impressed Kris Kristofferson said “John Prine is so good… we may have to break his thumbs!”. “If success can be measured by press clipping tonnage… and the die-hard respect of his peers, John Prine is a superstar” – David Fricke, Rolling Stone. “He’s one of the writers I’ve admired and used for inspiration for years” – Johnny Cash.
Recorded for Atlantic Records, the albums John Prine (1971), Diamonds in the Rough (1972), Sweet Revenge (1973) and Common Sense (1975) were literate works that combined everything from acoustic folk to rockabilly to straight-ahead country. His debut, John Prine, produced by Arif Mardin was a revelation when released and is now a collection of standards. The harrowing anti-drug tale ‘Sam Stone’ won much critical acclaim, while the Everly Brothers covered ‘Paradise’ and Joan Baez covered ‘Hello in There’. Diamonds in the Rough followed the same template while Sweet Revenge featured a set of rowdy country rock songs, including gems like ‘Please Don’t Bury Me’. With superb audio quality and detailed liner notes this outstanding four album set is a must for fans of classic singer / songwriter folk, country and rock.